Robert Malley, Middle East-North Africa Program Director, International Crisis Group

Amid the current sabre-rattling over Iran's nuclear program, Robert Malley from the International Crisis Group tells Annette Young the chance of Israel taking military action against its conflict-ridden neighbour, Syria, over its chemical weapons stockpile, poses a far greater threat.

With the current sabre-rattling over Iran’s nuclear program, Robert Malley from the International Crisis Group tells Annette Young the chance of Israel taking military action against its conflict-ridden neighbour, Syria, over its chemical weapons stockpile, poses a greater threat than a raid on Iran’s nuclear sites.

He says if there was to be ongoing civil war in Syria, the Israelis may stage military strikes to destroy any stockpiles of chemical weapons to ensure they don’t fall into the wrong hands.

But the former advisor to the Clinton administration and now the ICG’s Middle East director says the situation in regards to an Israeli military strike against Iran “has rarely been more confusing while at the same time, ominous.”

“It is certainly more possible today than ever before because Israel feels much more threatened with Iran entering what it calls a zone of immunity,” he says. “This is because it sees in the U.S, a presidential election with a presidential candidate unlikely to oppose such a strike. And with the United States having departed Iraq, it could fly over Iraqi airspace without any difficulties thus making it easier to strike Iran.”

A graduate of Sciences Po Paris and Columbia University, he was a journalist in New York for ten years before joining FRANCE 24 in 2009. He is specialised in French politics, Africa and the Middle East.

ANNETTE YOUNGPresenter

Originally from Australia, she is a senior journalist and presenter who has reported from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. When not fronting the network’s show on women’s issues, she is a news anchor and an international affairs commentator.

DOUGLAS HERBERTInternational Affairs Editor

This native New Yorker joined FRANCE 24 at its launch in 2006, lured by a lifelong love of French language and literature. He began his journalism career in the early 1990s in Russia and is now a foreign affairs commentator.

ARMEN GEORGIANForeign Affairs Analyst

Since he joined FRANCE 24 in 2006, he has reported on major political stories from Berlin, Moscow and New York. He has an interest in the ex-Soviet sphere and has filed feature stories from that area.